The compilation: MLB team-by-team top-10 prospects

After receiving numerous requests to compile all of my team-by-team top-10 lists into one large article, I have decided to do just that. I also find this format to be a great way to rank each team’s farm system and get caught up on offseason activity, whether it be the Yankees selling off their young assets or rising stars unexpectedly calling it quits in Oakland. This compilation also gives me a great template on which to base my upcoming off-season top-100 list.

Pitching wins championships, and the Rays are flush with talented arms who will provide strong rotation options for years to come, and a position player like Jennings can make all the difference in their lineup.

Texas is flush with high-potential pitching at various levels of the minor leagues, even though much of it is unproven. The track records of Feliz and Main make up for it, though. The system does lack bats beyond Smoak, which keeps it from the top spot.

Atlanta boasts the best position prospect in baseball, loads of pitching talent in the low minors, and a few more quality hitters sprinkled throughout. Their overall depth is merely average, however, as there isn’t much of note beyond the top 15.

The top of the Giants’ system is excellent with Bumgarner, Posey, and Wheeler, and they have a decent mix of hitters and pitchers beyond that. But their depth fades dramatically after the top 12 or so.

The Royals combine high-potential impact players with strong depth, as I found it difficult to cut five others from their top-10 list. The only problem is that their potential stars are unproven at higher levels, knocking their ranking down a peg or two. With continued success, however, they could be at the very top of this list next year.

Anderson’s studly status took a hit in 2009, leaving the Red Sox without a star in the high minors. But their farm system is one of the deepest in baseball, diverse, and well-rounded, headed up by the likes of Kelly and Westmoreland, who provide tremendous promise in the low minors.

The Rockies have put together the type of starting pitching that makes me think “perennial contender.” They don’t have an impact bat, but there is some underrated depth, highlighted by the playmaking ability of Young.

Escobar and Lawrie provide the star power for a deep system. They feature some universally underrated position players in Gindl and Lucroy, and, while not possessing one standout at this point, feature a good amount of pitching depth.

The Pirates have built up their system nicely in recent years, and they have to in their position. They have a good mix of pitching and hitting, a star at the top in Alvarez, and underrated depth. I feel like I could have put together a top-20 list comfortably. There is hope, Pittsburgh fans.

Strasburg was a slam-dunk addition, and a breakout year from Norris and Espinosa helped, but the Nationals’ depth is weak. Yet, they may be just one more strong draft away from one of the best systems in baseball in terms quality and quantity. Owning the No. 1 pick helps.

The A’s have some talented bats at various levels of the minors and strong overall depth, but the top-notch reinforcements for their starting rotation have thinned now that Anderson and Cahill are full-time big leagers.

Highlighted by Matusz, the Orioles believe they have the young arms to regain their former glory. Impact bats would help in that quest, and that is where the system falls short now that Matt Wieters has graduated.

The Angels lack a blue-chip prospect in the high minors, but they have tremendous depth, a well-rounded system, and players like Trout, Richards, and Martinez at the lower levels who have the potential to break out.

Stanton and Morrison form a great and farm-system-saving middle-of-the-order duo, but is it just me or has Florida’s depth dried up? It would be difficult forming even a top-15 list with players that deserve it.

Turner and Crosby form a good one-two pitching punch, and Sizemore has All-Star ability at second base, but Detroit’s farm system is one of the thinnest in baseball, even with the addition of Jackson and Schlereth.

Miller and Lynn have good potential but much to prove, and St. Louis has a couple of major-league-ready players, but none that possess star ability. St. Louis is on shaky ground both in terms and quality and quantity beyond the top eight.

The Blue Jays were destined for dead-last on this list, and it took trading Roy Halladay to pull them out. Wallace and Drabek are great additions, but the system is still quite thin and in need of more work.

Parker’s Tommy John surgery has crippled the system. In an attempt to resuscitate it the Diamondbacks had a stellar and deep 2009 draft, but each and every one of their draftees has a lot to prove before I raise the team out of the cellar.

With the question marks surrounding Flowers’ ability to stay at catcher, the lack of top-of-the-rotation arms beyond Hudson, and dearth of overall depth, White Sox fans don’t have much to look forward to.

While I disagree on the ranking of the Jay’s overall, I can understand why you have them list 27th. I have Stewart at just a notch below Drabek, instead of a number.

My main reason for posting is with the off season trade of Halliday, I can’t find the actual notes regarding the 3 players the Jays got from Philly. Since the Jays list was completed before the trade, and Philly’s after.

I’m a little surprised the Phillies bottom heavy farm system is ranked last despite the recent flow of upper level talent to other organizations. They have a pretty nice collection of high ceiling players so while the quality isn’t quite there, they have enough depth to expect it show up in a year or two. Other systems near the bottom are just as light at the top levels and don’t have half the lower level upside.

It’s come to my attention that these rankings are applied through the lens of fantasy. In that case, I completely agree with the Phillies #30 ranking as it’s completely uncertain which high ceiling athletes will add some baseball skills and which ones will keep flailing wildly.

Brandon Waring, acquired from Cincinnati before last season in the Ramon Hernandez deal, is considered a top power prospect. He was the MVP last year in the Carolina League(number five prospect Zach Britton was the pitcher of the year) and is projected just one year behind top O’s IF prospect, 3B Josh Bell(number six on the list and acquired from the Dodgers for George Sherrill at last year’s trade deadline).

Many feel Waring has a higher upside than Bell, who, as a switch hitter, struggles big time against LHs. But Bell is closer, so I guess that’s why he’s on the list and Waring isn’t.

I also find it fascinating that the list includes the number one and number two picks from the 2009 draft. Matt Hobgood was the national high school player of the year last year, but struggled in his pro debut. Number two pick Mychal Givens signed at the deadline, there was some speculation that he wanted to go back to school. He is a power arm SS/P, the O’s aren’t sure yet what direction they want for Givens. He has yet to make his pro debut, so including him on this list, I believe, is a bit premature, especially with Waring in the system.

Matt, KeninBaltimore has some good points. The Orioles have a very strong minor league system in place. Their positon players are not as strong as their pitchers, but Waring, Bell, Snyder, and a couple of others have real talent to effect the Orioles later. Their strenght is that the O’s can trade pitching (the commodity neeed most by other teams) for postion players. A good fomula that should propel them higher on your list of team’s minor league players.